Watch Live: Congressional Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live Now on TheBlaze Radio: ‘The Buck Sexton Show’

Government

‘Take Yes For An Answer’: Did Nancy Pelosi Just Admit the Individual Mandate Is a Tax?

Jun. 28, 2012 6:57pm Mytheos Holt

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may have finally admitted that she and other Democrats lied about the individual mandate. Having just been backed into an inescapable corner by no less an eminence than the United States Supreme Court, which explicitly said that the only way for the individual mandate to pass constitutional muster would be to recast it as a tax, Pelosi may have finally realized she has to acknowledge that reality when questioned by the Daily Caller’s Nicholas Ballasy, while trying as much as possible to dodge the issue by branding any discussion of the mandate’s nature as “Washington talk”:

“The President has said himself on numerous occasions that the individual mandate is not a tax. Do you think the individual mandate in the health care law is a tax?” Ballasy asked.

“The court has upheld the legislation,” Pelosi stonewalled. “Call it what you will. It is a step forward for America’s families, and you know what? Take yes for an answer. This is a very good thing for the American people. What you’re talking about here is Washington talk.”

“Washington talk?” If getting Pelosi to admit the truth is “Washington talk,” then Washington could use more of it. Her hemming and hawing answer, and the extremely vague line “take yes for an answer” notwithstanding, it is true that the individual mandate is a tax, and if Pelosi is even willing to hint at that reality, then at least she’s made a baby step toward integrity.

Then again, it’s not as though Pelosi’s opinion about what the individual mandate is or is not counts for much. Remember when she predicted the law would be upheld 6-3 on the basis of no evidence whatsoever? Wrong.

What about when she said “the power of Congress to regulate health care is essentially unlimited” because of the commerce clause? Wrong again. In fact, even the liberal justices joined with Chief Justice Roberts in striking down the law’s justification under the commerce clause.

This case has gone Pelosi’s way, no doubt about it, but her credibility, to the extent that it was still even a concept that can be mentioned in polite company, has been thoroughly gutted by over two years’ worth of faulty predictions about it. And that, by the way, is not “Washington talk.” That is reality. Which is going to catch up with the Obamacare tax increases very quickly.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (101)

SoCaLCapitalist
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:04pm
Pelosi looks like the inspiration for the aliens in “they live” I hope she hurries up and croaks.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- cwocec
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:55pm
  Could not agree more. Old rubber face should be ______________! I will leave it to everyone to fill in.
  
  Report this comment
- DLanassa
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:53am
  Can anyone duct tape her arms to her side????
  
  Report this comment
- MCDAVE
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 5:26am
  Pelosi’s legacy will be that of a corrupt old hag,one of the most hated women ever..History will judge you correctly Nancy..you were a lying,cheating, deceitful ,old hag who betrayed the trust of the people who elected her …All your ill gotten money will buy you nothing when you face Gods judgement….
  
  Report this comment
- JRook
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:13am
  No more than any of the increased fees for car registrations, drivers licenses, park entrance fees, professional license fees, etc. that Republicans hike up after they reduce income taxes are. What Roberts said, and I know this is hard for many here to follow is that “the penalty functions as a tax since it encourages a particular behavior or action. What Pelosi said that was more cryptic and relevant was that there can’t be any “free riders” in the health care system. The game being played in health care is similar to the one I saw while in college where students claimed to be emancipated so that they qualified for in state tuition. Which of course meant that both them and their parents blatantly lied and committed a fraud for their own self interest. Tuition ended up being higher for legitimate in state students due as a result of such fraud. People who don’t have health insurance and can’t pay their medical bills are a financial burden on the system that we all end up paying for.
  
  Report this comment
- love the kids
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:42am
  I guess most people in this country that really have morals would have thrown out the healthcare law because if the fact they sold it on the fact that it wasn’t a tax, but then their entire defense was that they have the right to tax the way they want. If you see a slow walking Fox in your front yard during the day, and someone says that he absoutly does not have rabies, do you treat him as such, or use at least 1/1000th of a brain in your head to step back and say that this really needs to be looked at.
  He said they can’t write the laws and that people should consider who they elect, well they did when they elected Bush and he put what we thought was a conservative in the court, but we were lied to then.
  
  Report this comment
- Marine25
  Posted on July 1, 2012 at 1:34pm
  A tax on freeloaders at the emergency room. Sounds like something conservatives should like. Would it help the folks at the blaze if they knew that 55% of those who would be affected by this tax are minorities?
  
  Report this comment
I.Heart.America
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:01pm
The Repeal ObamaCare Pledge…

http://senateconservatives.com/repealobamacare#petition

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- rickc34
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:28pm
  Nancy you idiot we always knew it was a tax , it was those fools on the left that follow you and Obama that believed you because they are fools.
  
  Report this comment
Tri-ox
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:54pm
It is a TAX (and the largest single tax increase in U.S. history), and it can be rescinded by Congress – but first, we must do our duty as Americans and remove obama from power.

America needs us – it is our duty to save her from obama.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Cavy2see
  Posted on July 1, 2012 at 4:59pm
  I don’t want to save anyone…they should be praying for our nation…not putting us one against the other…for a health care plan…we should be stating we would not buy insureance from companies if they don’t make insuring more affordable from the poor and median people….if everyone boycotted insurance companies…by paying 1/2 their bill…it is like what is happening to us…we will not be getting much insurance anyway…when this bill kicks in…insurance companies will be out of business…like when we had hurricanes down here…citizens insurances came to the forefront…no one would insure our homes…just a little example…maybe we could do the same with medical ins. they are not paying doctors much…just a thought…oh me oh my…woe…to all…
  
  Report this comment
victorincalifornia
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:51pm
why am I not excited about our journey on the road to utopia, I do think this energizes (electrifies) the base.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Eleutheria
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:26pm
  Because any mention of the term Utopia is a misnomer. All literary references to Utopia are in the end found to be Dystopias.
  
  Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:49pm
Nancy Pelosi; “We have to pass the Bill before you can see what’s in it and we blackmail a SC Justice to get in made Constitutional”.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- 65Mustang
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:32pm
  Exactly the way it happened…can’t stand that whore.
  
  Report this comment
- dublinthewagons
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 9:20pm
  Pelosi is a has been w****. A blind drunk Muslim wouldn’t touch her as long a one camel is left alive.
  
  Report this comment
victorincalifornia
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:47pm
she is right that the american people are concerned about “what it does TO them” not for them, fruedian slip ?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
321481
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:43pm
Nancy P. needs to have her wealth redistributed since she is such a socialist.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
PeachyinGA
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:38pm
Pelosi doesn’t have to admit the law is a tax … the ruling today already did that.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
midnightgolfer
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:38pm
Taxation by misrepresentation.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Gregb
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:37pm
it is a tax…
51% to void

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Dde13
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:33pm
She is from another planet…San Francisco I’m sure your soooooo proud…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Jackers
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:49pm
  Ms. Pelosi is our shining example of your typical rich, spoiled royal elitist enjoying her sheltered existence in her ivory tower all of her life with absolutely no iota of what real life is all about…
  
  As for her ongoing push for amnesty, I’d love to see Ms. Pelosi move into a typical home in a typical area in a typical part of LA for just one week to see what her never-ending push for illegal immigration is all about.
  
  As for health care, rather than controlling and rationing our health care through unelected government officials, how about extending to all of us the smorgasbord of gold-plated health care that you and all of your fellow cronies enjoy at our expense?
  
  I’m sick and tired of royal elitists living in the safety of their fenced-in mansions dictating to us what’s best for us while leaving us fully exposed to heaven knows what from south of the border and destroying our quality of lives at every turn.
  
  It’s truly time to clean house!
  
  Report this comment
- Lunertic
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:16pm
  Actually DD. People in San Francisco has no idea who Nancy Pelosi is. They just pulled the lever that said (DNP). They have no idea WHO they voted for and wouldn’t know them if you told them.
  
  Report this comment
donh2
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:32pm
America is not top down tyranny where the people play yes men to dictators. The answers lie with the majority will of the people …the only just law. …but then this is not Amerika anymore.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
EqualJustice
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:31pm
What a dip **** moron. That’s the only way you could argue this as “Constitutional” to the Supreme Court, as a TAX and not a mandated PURCHASE. Damnnnnn she’s stupid!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
BurntHills
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:28pm
don’t forget !!! some vile obama democrat was trying to float the idea awhile back [early 2011] that whoever refused to pay the OBAMATAX should be made to wear a GOLD STAR so the hospitals would know ”they forfeited” ‘their right to service and the hospital and doctors wouldn’t have to treat them.

yeah, a GOLD STAR, like the Jews wore in WWII Germany.

other news now, the rejoicing obama communist dems are calling for the UNIONIZATION of DOCTORS.

[ a poll on Rushbo had 83% of MDs saying they are retiring soon because of the OBAMATAX.]

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Exrepublisheep
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:35pm
  “a poll on Rushbo” kind of says it all.
  
  Report this comment
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:35pm
  I’ve already heard from my main doctor; she has gone out of business effective immediatly. This Obamacare garbage has cost me more trouble than anything. I wish people would wake up and see the moster Obama really is.
  
  Report this comment
- USAtheist
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:37pm
  Is it cool to be able to stick a Q-Tip all the way in your ear and not feel anything?
  
  Report this comment
- BurntHills
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:43pm
  we lost 3 family doctors and 1 ortho specialist [for wounded vets] who retired Dec 2011 rather than face OBAMATAX. 2 more were talking about retiring this Dec if things do not change.
  
  Report this comment
- BurntHills
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:45pm
  it was not Rushbo’s poll, haha, it was an independent news outlet’s. just goes to show how quick we can make an obama mindless plantation- troll bite the hook.
  
  Report this comment
- HorseCrazy
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:45pm
  @snow I lost my doctor today as well. very sad day. he is closing his practice in 1 month just to give his staff time to find other work. so very heartbreaking.
  
  Report this comment
- Exrepublisheep
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 9:18pm
  @burnthills. lol, lying to see who bites. Typical repube manuever.
  
  Report this comment
hi
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:27pm
She will be upset when she goes in for another facelift, they give her a blue pill instead.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- ColoradoNative
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:50pm
  Thank you Hi for making me laugh on this horrible day.
  
  I know of a young man whose parents are both doctors. He was going to follow in their footsteps. They suggested that he not spend the time and money studying to become a doctor as their profits have been steadily dropping due to being payed less and less for medicare patients. Plus the uncertain future of Obamacare made the profession too risky. He is now following a different path. Older doctors will retire, younger bright people will not want to be constrained by Obamacare, and will not become doctors. There will be a doctor shortage sooner rather than later.
  
  Report this comment
- JACKTHETOAD
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 6:57am
  I’d rather if they decided to play Whack-A-Mole withe her instead. It’d blunt that taper.
  
  Report this comment
Oldtruth
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:22pm
That’s right Nancy, continue to talk down to the American people. That “Washington Talk” as you call it is bankrupting the citizens and the country…as far as technical words go WTF, TAX may be one of the few words your familiar with, but there is certainly nothing technical about it.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Diane TX
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:22pm
Does this mean that Obama Care has to be amended – changing “individual mandate” to “individual tax”? Although, perhaps Chief Justice Roberts has already done this.

It’s getting downright confusing with the Supreme Court, and Obama writing Laws, when the Supreme Court is supposed to determine the constitutionality of Laws, The Executive Branch is supposed implement and enforced Laws, and the Congress is “supposed to” write the Laws.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- drbage
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:25pm
  Listening to this a song from a long ago, television viewing past came to mind: “A horse is horse, unless, of course, it is Mr. Ed.”
  
  Report this comment
- DenisWTexas
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:18pm
  Don’t insult poor Mr. Ed that way.
  
  He’s not NEARLY as ugly as this botox-infested kraken.
  
  Report this comment
FedUpWithLibs
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:18pm
She is so condescending. It makes me sick. Oh it’s not a tax, that’s just what you smart people in Washington call it. OOOHH, thanks for clearing that up.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
countryfirst
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:15pm
Today I contributed to a presidential campaign, (first time in my life) and will continue to do so till Romney is Elect in November . I guess since I pay federal taxes and have skin in that game, I can now say I have a vested interest in the election and in liberty
I hope millions more do the same. This from an awoken democrat. OMG

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- azcraigrr
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:26pm
  Good for you, and same here – I contributed for the first time to Romney, and I will make it a regular thing with each paycheck. I’m damn tired of the lies and having my country’s Constitution spat upon.
  
  Report this comment
- hi
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:28pm
  I can’t wait to see the news of how much money Romney received today.
  
  Report this comment
- Flippy
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:34pm
  I did too! I have never donated before, but I donated today. I know too many people that will be negatively impacted by the ACA.
  
  Report this comment
- DEFCON4
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:09pm
  @ HI, at six o’clock the total had just broke 2.5 million $$
  
  Report this comment
sparkyrules
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:12pm
I hope history someday shines the light of truth on what this witch and her many cohorts wrought upon this once great nation.A nation now in decline.Its a good time to physically invest in some New Zealand property if you can afford it.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- rickc34
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:23pm
  This is Obamas war on the poor and middle class. Just one more tax from the left. And no more tax deduction on home mortgage for tax and interest was thrown into the bill. Obama promised change.
  
  Report this comment
Revelation99
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:12pm
Wow you can’t make this stuff up. If it wasn’t so saddening it would almost be comical.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- drbage
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:23pm
  Would have loved to have been the Daily Caller reporter and done follow up:
  Daily Caller: Rep. Pelosi, since you don’t want to answer that question, how about this one–have you read the healthcare law yet?
  Pelosi: Are you serious? I mean, are you really serious?
  
  Report this comment
Mark0331
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:12pm
This your brain on Bath Salts everyone…..someone, please get Nancy some help, 12 step, rehab, something…she is hallucinating again in public.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
AJAYW
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:07pm
I dare not put down what I think of this liberal lair of a Bit*ch

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
joel228
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:05pm
Call it what we will? How about theft? How about tyranny?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:01pm
Nancy, do you embarrass your family? You sure embarrass your country.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- beebacksoon
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:05pm
  Everyone knows she is “not right”. All her leftist friends just pat her on the head..”there, there, Nancy”. RETIRE, NANCY! You’re nuts!
  
  Report this comment
- Therightsofbilly
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:06pm
  Whenever I feel really down, and it seems like things can get no worse, I cheer myself up by remembering that there actually is a MR. Pelosi.
  
  What a sad sack he must be.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:25pm
  @TRONINTHEMORNING
  and
  @MOMRULES
  
  RE; Colorado fires.
  
  Yes, I did e-mail them last night and they were able to come up with this article by this morning. It still is late and sparse.
  
  I sent a few e-mails to different people and it finally came together that they missed it. No other reason was given.
  
  If you have any other stories that are important and are missed just look for my posts and let me know. Do you know the best way to find me without reading every bleeping post?
  
  Report this comment
- Mark0331
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:25pm
  She rolls through this world like a dementia patient…sad but evidently true.
  
  Report this comment
- Oldtruth
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:27pm
  They call them doormats
  
  Report this comment
- TRONINTHEMORNING
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:32pm
  Well done, MONK. Saw the picture book they put up earlier. Seriously, you just don’t miss stories such as the Colorado fires-IF you are a true journalist.
  
  Rock on, MONK!
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:32pm
  Sup Billy?
  
  Strange day….
  
  How’s it going? Interested in reading and giving me me some feedback on my F&F theory?
  
  Report this comment
- USAtheist
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:36pm
  Aww, poor dejected white males, is she scaring you again? Mrs. Pelosi has been reelected consistently since 1987. She can be voted out of power at any time, yet she seems to be more popular than ever nationally.
  If people wanted her gone, she would be, now I can’t imagine where else we’ve seen the will of the people played out… in public figures… who no longer hold the ear of the nation… LOL, you got Beck’d.
  
  Report this comment
- Mark0331
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:48pm
  @USATHEIST….look who elects her and what city they live in…a city in which they have to wash the urine out of the sidewalks every morning due to the junkies and homeless infesting that city…if you take pride in being part of or defending the vast majority of her electorate, go right ahead..it shows how dense you truly are and how devoid of logical thinking you have become….To defend a women crazy/vain enough to inject Botulinium into her face and head, well, you got guts…
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:58pm
  @TRONINTHEMORNING
  
  You’re most welcome. : )
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.